I love meeting people who beat the odds. Anthony Vennare was supposed to be a “dumb jock”. He wasn’t supposed to open a gym and find profitability within 2 months. He wasn’t supposed to raise millions of dollars to get more people working out. He wasn’t supposed to sign deals with massive healthcare companies and turn the world of digital content writing on its head.

Luckily, no one told him.

Today, Anthony is the co-founder and CEO of Fitt – a media and technology company that connects people to local health and fitness activities. They’ve got big plans for the future and anyone in the content & branding game needs to study what they’re doing.

I got him for 40 minutes over the weekend and hustled to get this episode out ASAP because it got me so fired up. Hope you enjoy it.

Attend my one-day conference January 27th in Pittsburgh. Learn more here.

Anthony’s Challenge; Leave behind everything in your life that is stuck in the status quo. Write down a plan and execute on one step every month in the new direction.

Resources

Voice Dream

In this episode, Aaron Watson speaks with Dale Copeland  about the likelihood of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. 

Dale Copeland, a professor at the University of Virginia, specializes in trade, war, and economic interdependence. Known for his theory of trade expectations, he explores how future trade expectations shape war and peace, challenging conventional views in works like Economic Interdependence and War.

Copeland argues the risk is lower than some believe, citing military, economic, and geopolitical constraints on Xi Jinping. We explore how trade dependencies shape global security and why China’s economic vulnerabilities serve as a key deterrent.

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Akshar Patel is the founder of The Emissary, a media platform that explores India's history, politics, and societal dynamics. He aims to provide nuanced insights into topics like caste, Hindutva, and economic growth, highlighting India's conservative social fabric and rapid economic rise. Patel has been featured on various podcasts discussing India's evolving landscape.

In this episode, we explore why India and the U.S. aren’t closer allies, who India’s primary adversary is, and how its global alignments are shifting. The discussion covers historical tensions, strategic relationships with Russia and China, Modi’s policies, economic reforms, and India’s growing digital influence. Tune in for a deep dive into India’s evolving role in the world and what it means for the future.

Connect with Akshar Patel

Youtube

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Website

Instagram

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Henry Olsen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a former opinion columnist for The Washington Post . His writing focuses on American politics, populism, foreign affairs, and conservative thought. He has authored The Working Class Republican and The Four Faces of the Republican Party.

In this episode, we discuss the future of U.S. foreign policy in light of Donald Trump’s re-election and examine J.D. Vance’s emergence as a significant political figure and his potential to shape the Republican Party’s future. Additionally, we analyze insights from recent polling data to identify key battleground states in upcoming elections. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of these critical issues.

Connect with Henry Olsen

Linkedin

Twitter

Watch this interview on our Youtube Channel 

Jacob Shapiro is a geopolitical analyst who helps investors and businesses navigate the complexities of a multipolar world. Jacob oversees geopolitical analysis at Cognitive Investments and hosts the Jacob Shapiro podcast.

In this episode, we question longstanding alliances, explore the intricate balance of power in the Middle East, and contemplate the future of U.S. foreign policy in the region.

We begin by tracing the historical roots of the U.S.-Israel alliance, primarily forged during the Cold War and heavily influenced by U.S. energy dependencies in the Middle East. Shapiro explains how the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of American energy independence from the shale revolution have significantly altered these dynamics, making Israel less of a strategic asset today.

Connect with Jacob Shapiro

Linkedin

Website

Watch this interview on our YouTube Channel.

Alan shared an hour of his time to explain how he was able to retire at 35 and lays out the principles by which he lived.

Alan’s three core principles

1. Keep your spending in check so you save a lot - preferably by automating your savings
2. Seek out ways to increase your income through education, hard work, and challenging careers
3. Implement a sound investment strategy that keeps fees low and generates high rates of return early on

Alan discusses the merits of going back to school to get a graduate degree. He also explains why living in a low-cost city like Pittsburgh was a boon and how he lost more than 100 lbs after he retired.

THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, INTERNATIONAL PODCASTING DAY, at the EPICAST NETWORK STUDIOS.

Alan’s Challenge; Keep a journal of all your expenses for one week and reflect on necessary vs. discretionary purchases. By investing savings in securities generating an average of 10%/year (i.e. total stock market funds), in 20 years, each dollar saved could turn into $7. If you’d rather have the $7, automate your savings.

Reading Suggestion; BogleHeads

Connect with Alan

LinkedIn

Shane Parrish is the founder, curator and wisdom seeker behind Farnam Street. He is also  a bestselling author and entrepreneur known for his popular podcast The Knowledge Project and Brain Food newsletter.

Originally a personal blog where Shane could explore the discoveries made by others about decision-making, purposeful living, and the mechanics of the world, it swiftly transformed into a leading website for personal development.

Shane Parrish just released his book Clear Thinking. It is a book that equips you with the instruments to identify those pivotal moments capable of altering your path and influencing how you navigate the crucial gap between stimulus and response.

In this episode, Aaron and Shane discuss the importance of clear thinking, identifying blind spots, and making better decisions. They also explore the power of reading and the impact it can have on our lives. 

Shane’s Challenge: I want to know which part of that book changed your life, which part of that book changed your thinking.

Connect with Shane Parrish

Linkedin

Twitter

Website

If you liked this interview, I'm confident you'd also enjoy the content on my YouTube channel. You will think more clearly after consuming some of the video essays on the channel, including our breakdown of why Apple is Screwed if China ends up invading Taiwan.

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David McCormick is the former CEO of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds. He has also previously worked in the Bush White House and as President of FreeMarkets, a Pittsburgh-based startup from the early 2000s.

He accomplished the sale of FreeMarkets to Ariba in 2004 for an estimated sum of $500 million and ensured that his team retained their jobs after the acquisition.

McCormick ran in the GOP primaries for Pennsylvania senator against Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2022. It is speculated that he may run again in 2024 against Democratic incumbent Bob Casey.

In this episode, Aaron and David talk about his winding career, his book Superpower In Peril, and the major points in his game plan to renew America.

David McCormick’s Challenge; Embrace the privilege and responsibility to be born in the greatest country in the world by registering to vote.

Connect with David McCormick

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Twitter

Website

If you liked this interview, check out our episode about Storing Family Memories Forever & Losing $1 Billion w/ Glen Meakem

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Chris Powers is the Founder & Executive Chairman of Fort Capital. Fort Capital is a Fort Worth, Texas-based Real Estate Private Equity firm. 

In 2016, Chris made the decision to focus on Class B Industrial full time and that is where the firm has dedicated the majority of its resources since.

After graduating in 2008, Chris started a leasing and property management business and flipped houses on the side. Wells Fargo gave him a $250,000 line of credit, and the plan was to keep flipping homes near TCU. Chris started buying foreclosed homes all over the Dallas Fort Worth area. From there, he started building high-end custom homes. He later got into land development and entitlement for several years, where he would assemble unentitled urban land and take the entitlement risk to develop from ground-up. He has since learned the value of focusing on a specific niche.
In this episode, Aaron and Chris talk about how he's built his team, how he balances the identity of investor and entrepreneur, and how focusing on a specific niche of real estate has led to stratospheric growth.

Chris Powers’ Challenge;  if you don't have a mentor, go find someone that you trust that will pass their wisdom on to you. Connect with Chris Powers

Linkedin

Twitter

Website

If you liked this interview, check out our episode with Brent B. Shore. His firm, Permanent Equity, specializes in buying small businesses and has built their specialty and niche focus.

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David Tobin is the Founder and Managing Partner of TobinLeff, where they help clients convert business value into family wealth. 

David is a serial entrepreneur who has founded, grown, and sold four companies. David has worked with over 100 businesses to build value, retain key employees, and achieve profitable exits.

TobinLeff is an M&A advisory and exit planning firm that assists business owners in maximizing enterprise value and converting it into personal wealth. They offer consulting services to prepare companies for transactions, M&A services for acquisitions and sales to strategic buyers and private equity groups, and exit planning services such as management buy-out plans.

In this episode, Aaron and David talk about how these mergers and acquisition transactions occur, who the important parties are, what the most important terms are as a part of these deals, and a whole lot more.

David Tobin’s Challenge; Do vision planning, and make sure you have a mission that truly ties to this vision. 

Connect with David Tobin Linkedin

Website

If you liked this interview, check out our episode on How to Sell a Midsize Digital Agency w/ Amanda Dixon (Barney)

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Kevin Kelly co-founded Wired magazine in 1993, served as its Executive Editor for its first seven years, and was a pioneer from the early days of the internet. He is an author of several bestselling books and is a return guest on this podcast.

Kevin’s book Excellent Advice for Living is a small book of wisdom, in a pocketable format with 450 tweetable bits of advice that he wished he had known earlier. Kevin was prompted to collect these thoughts after a recent birthday caused him to reflect on which lessons he could pass to his children.

In this episode, Aaron and Kevin talk about aphorisms, why it was important for him to write this book now, and the impact he hopes he has on his family.

Kevin Kelly’s Challenge; Think about how to be a good ancestor. Work on one good thing that you think your future generation will thank you for, or thank your great grandparents for something that they have done that you’re proud and thankful for.

Connect with Kevin Kelly Twitter

Website

Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier

If you liked this interview, check out our episode about Four Huge Startup Exits w/ Jason Wolfe

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